Shoe pressing machine



Nov. 10, 1931.

4 Sheets-Sheet. l

BY I

ATTO N EY Nov. 10, 1931. E. E. CLEMENTS SHOE PRESSING MACHINE Filed July 26, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet, 2

JET-*5- INVENTOR faye/ze 1? 67677761722! TTORNEY Nov; 10, 1931.

E. E. CLEMENTS SHOE PRESSING MACHINE Filed July 26, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet, 3

INVENTOR faycwe f, CZmen/d BY ATTORNEY NOV. 10, 1931. E CLEMENTS 1,831,525

SHOE PRESSING MACHINE Filed July 26, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet, 4

Fzarrc? 11V V5 N T OR Eugene E. Clemenis ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 10, 1931 UNITED STATES. PATENT op EUGENE E. (ELEMENTS, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE LaCANDEE I AND COMPANY, OF NENV HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, A GORPOR-ATION'OE CONNECTICUT to a large range of sizes of shoes;

SHOE PRESSING MACHINE 7 Application filed Ju1y 26, 1928. Serial No. 295,598.

This invention relates to pressing ma- 'chiner but more particularly to a machine for pressing the foxing and toe cap on a lasted shoe.

In the manufacture of rubber or composite rubber and fabric footwear, it is usually the custom to apply a narrow strip of rubber around the lowermost portion of the shoe extending between the outsole and the upper. This strip, commonly known as the foxing", strengthens the shoe at this point and also acts as a waterproofing. As it is subject to considerable strain'and wear, it is highly important that the union between the element's be as strong as possible. To accomplish this not only must the adhesive qualities be effectual, but a-sufficient pressure must be brought to bear upon the foxing toproduce a complete union between the fabric and the rubber. Likewise it is customary to cover the extreme toe portion with a rubber cap and the requirements are the same as in the case of the foxing.

' Various machines have been designed for the p urpose of the present invention, but these have generally been complex in construction and unsatisfactory in operation. The usual method has been to perform this operation manually by means of a hand roller. -This manual method has been found to be ineffective due to the inability of the operator to exert adequate pressure, particularly when the operator seeks to perform the work rapidly for with greater speed he would inadvertently lighten the pressure on the'roller and thus there would be 'portionsof the foxing and cap which would not be completely united. I y

This application is a continuation in part of my copending application Serial No. 205,916, filed July 15,1927. I

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a simple and effective pressing machine of the mechanically operated type'which will improve the qualityof rubher and rubber and fabric footwear by insuring complete union of the parts.

7 Another object is to provide a machine which will applya uniformly high pressure by a clutch 11.

revolutiontype and comprises a jaw 12 se- 7 cured to thesection 9a and a-jaw 13 slidably The many other objects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by referring to the following specification when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating a'se the machine rest. I

Fig. 6 is a detail plan view of the pressing ring. I

r Fig, 7 is an enlarged section onthe line '7? of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 1s a partial perspective view of the machine shown in Fig. 1 to which has been added the toe cap pressing mechanism, and

Fig.9 is a vertical section on the line-9+9 of Fig. "8. Q a Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1-7 inclusive, the pressing machine 'isprovided with a frame-1 having lower cross members 2 on which is mounted Fig. 5 is a detail side elevation of the shoe I a motor 3. Keyed to the motor shaft 4 is a sprocket a which drives a corresponding sprocket 6 on reductlongear shaft 7 by means of a chain 8. The speed of the motor shaft V is: reduced to the required speed of the main drive shaft'9'by. a reduction unit 10 of the usual type. The drive shaft 9 extends'longitudinally of the machine and transversely of the motor shaft 4 and in the present embodiment is composed of two sections 9a and 95 adapted tobe operatively connected This clutch is ofthe one keyed on the section 96. An upwardly extending yoke 14 pivoted at 15 on the upright bracket '16 has shoes 17-secureduon the extremities of each finger andrunning in the groove18 in the jaw 13. V The yoke arm-14 V has an extension arm 19' to which a tread 'le lOO rod 20 is attached. In order to insure a disengagement of the clutch at the completion of each revolution of the drive shaft, a pin 21 projects from the jaw sleeve 22, and this pin is positioned to engage a stop finger 23 pivoted on a bracket 24 by stud 25. One end of the finger 23 is secured to a treadle rod 26 by a yoke 27. The rods 20 and 26 are connected to a treadle (not shown) so that a depression of this treadle by the operator draws downwardly both of these rods, disengaging the finger 23 from the stop finger 21 and causing the jaws 12 and 13 to engage, thus setting the machine in motion.

The outer end of the section 95 of the shaft .9 has an eccentric member 28 rigidly mount- .ed thereon. The eccentric member 28 1s pivotally secured to a slide 31 on an arm 32 by the nut and pin 33. The eccentric member 28 revolves on the bracket 34 which is fastened to the machine frame by bolts 35 and the eccentricity of this member may be adjusted by means of a slide 36 regulated by an adjusting screw 37.

At the upper extremity of the arm 32 is afixed a block 38 which is embraced by a bifurcated member 39 pivotally connected thereto by a pin 40. Plates 41a and 411) secured on opposite sides of the member 39 by the pin 42 form abifurcation to which is pivotally connected a block 43. The outer extremity of a lever 44 pases through the block 43, and the opposite end of this lever, which is angular in form, loosely embraces the hub 45 of the cam disk 46. This hub projects downwardly from the center of the under face of the disk and rotates on a downwardly projecting stud 45a fixed on the machine, the lower threaded end of the stud carrying a nut 456 which takes the downward thrust of the hub 45 as the hub and cam disk 46 rotate on the stud.

The cam disk 46 has upon its upper face a series of cams 47 disposed thereon in suitable arrangement to actuate slideblocks 48 on slideways 49 on the table 50, such table being mounted on-supports 51 secured to the frame 1. The slide blocks 48 are provided with rollers 52 on their under sides which are secured thereto by studs 53. These rollers operate in cam grooves 54 formed in the cams 47 as the cam disk 46 revolves.

A presser ring 55, shown in detail in Figs. 6 and 7, is centrally located upon the table and has an opening 55a therein, the approximate contour of a shoe extending longitudinally thereof. The body of this presser ring 55 is preferably composed of rubber composition or other suitable elastic material so that it may be compressed and expand .ed to vary the size of the opening therein for thepurpose which will be presently described. Lugs 56 are provided on opposite :sides of the marginal portion of the ring,

there'being in the present embodiment twelve of these lugs, six being on each side. It is advisable that these lugs 56 be properly reinforced, as for example by layers of gum fabric 57 (Fig. 7 enveloping a core portion 58 of rubber composition, a layer of gum rubber 59 being wound between each layer of gum fabric. The reinforcing is preferably placed in the ring during the molding operation. The lugs are arranged in pairs, one being above and one below the ringin each pair, and a pair of lugs is provided for each of the slide blocks 48 on the table 50.

Each of theslide blocks 48 is provided with two U-shaped plates 60a and 60?) secured to the sides thereof and forming rectangular recesses 61 into which the lugs 56 fit. These recesses are preferably slightly longer than the lugs to permit a limited movement while the machine is in operation. A retainer plate 62 rectangular in form and fitting the outline of the lug, acts as a friction preventative as the lugs tend to move back and forth when the machine is in operation. The plates 60a and 606 are held in engagement with the lugs 56 by cap plates 63 which are secured to the block by screws 64. Plates 63a situated between the plates 60a. and 60?) are provided to cover the edge of the rubber ring 55 substantially for the length of the opening or shoe cavity 55a. These are provided so that during the pressing operation there will be a uniform pressure along the sides when the rubber ring is being forced about the shoe.

In the present embodiment four of the slide blocks, two on each side, are adjustable, and this adjustment is provided by means of screws 65 having hand wheels 66 thereon. The turning of these hand wheels causes the corresponding blocks to be moved inwardly or outwardly depending upon the direction of rotation, and this movement of the blocks acts to increase or diminish the size of the opening 55a for the engagement of the blocks with the lugs on the various styles and sizes of shoes. This adjustment of the blocks is independent of the means for shifting all of the blocks in the operation of the machine as will be presently,described.

A shoe rest 67, shown in detail in Fig. 5, is centrally located in the opening 55a and pivotally mounted on brackets 68 and 68a by the screw 69. 'A spring 70 between the headof this screw and the web 71 of the rest is provided to frictionally hold the rest in any tilted position.

If the operator should neglect to adjust the size of the opening 55a for the particular width of the shoe being treated before start ing the machine, the rubber ring mightbe compressed as far as possible before the pensating unit .72 shown in detail in Fig. 4,. In this unit a cylindrical member 7264 has a bifurcated portion 73 which engages the lever 44. A plug 74. is threaded into the end of the cylinder and vispro-vided with an aperture through which passes the stem .7 o a plunger 76, a fibre washer 'Ttimbeing provided to act as a bumper for the plunger 76 and to prevent it from striking the plug. A stop collar T7 and a lock collar 78 are threaded on the stem 75 and this collar 77 acts as an abutment for. the spring 7 9, the other end of the spring bearing against the shoulder 80 on the member 7 2. The plunger stem 751has threaded thereon a nut 81 which fits into a housing 82 secured on the under face of the cam disk 46, acap 83 being fastened to the housing by screws or other suitable means to retain .the nut therein. An

' upper threaded portion 82a of the housing passes through the cam disk and is secured thereto by means of a nut 85!. The outer extremity of the plunger stem 75 is provided with a crank .85 whereby the-same may #5 be turned in the nut 81 tocause the camdisk 46 to be rotated slightly, thus changing the position of the rollers 52 in the groove, and consequently movingthe slide :blocks 48 on the slideways 49 to increase or decrease the size of the opening 55a, depending on the directionof rotation of the crank. A passage 86 permits the escape of air :from the cylinder in the member 72;

. Before starting operation of the machine '35 the ring should be adjusted if necessary for the particular-shoe to be treated. Then a shoe with a foxing applied is placed upon the rest 67 and the operator presses the foot 'treadle (not shown) which draws downward- 40 ly the rods 20 and 26 connectedto the clutch yoke 14 and the stop finger 23 respectively. This movement causes .the finger 23 to release the stop pin 21 and the yoke 14 shifts the clutch jaw 13 into engagement with the jaw 12. The section 9a, driven-from the motor3, isnow driving'the section 9?), and thus causing the eccentric 28 to revolve. The revolution of the eccentric causes the arm 32 to swing in an arcabout its pivot lower end and this causes a corresponding movement of the lever .44 about the axis of the cam disk 46. The swinging movement of the lever 44 causes a corresponding rotation of the cam disk, through the medium of the compensating unit 72. The extent of the revolution of the diskdepends on the are of travel of the lever at. As the cam disk 46 thus revolves, rollers 52 follow the cam slots 54, causing the slide. blocks 48 to move inwardly toward'the lasted shoe in the opening 55a and forcing the rubber ring 55 against the foxing .of theshoe at apressure say'of 30 or 3.5 lbs. per sq.'in.. As has previously beenmentioned, if the operator negfifileets toeadjust the opening 55a tothe proper size before starting the machine, and the ring 55 reaches its maximum oint of com- .pression before the slide-blocs have completed their inward or pressing movement,

the spring 79 yields and permits the levers 32 and llto-continue their movement. The

yielding ofthe spring 7 9 causes the plunger .76 to recede in the oylinderand thus permits the cam wheel to remain stationary. Itis only afterthe pressure of the rubber ring against-the shoe has reached a predetermined limit that this spring begins to perform its compensating function-i The continued r0,-

tation of the eccentric causes the lever 44: to

swing the reverse direction, producing a reverse revolution of the cam disk and moving the blocks away from the opening 55a. Thus the ring 55 is returned-to its initial adjusted form. It will thus be evident that a single revolution of the shaft 9 causes a complete cycle of operations of the machine. Further rotation of this shaft is prevented by the stop pin 21 which automatically re-engages with the finger 23,;the rod 26 having been released by the operator as soon as the'oper-ations had started. The

attachment of the foxing is .now completed and the shoe may be removed from the rest.

The contraction of the rubber ring by the blocks causes this ring to uniformly press the foxing against the lasted shoe on the shoe rest.- The amount of this pressure may be quickly and easily made and, whenonce completed fora certain size or shape of shoe, no. readjustment is necessary as long as shoes of'the same size and shape arebeing pressed. The compensating device prevents any stopping of'the machine due to afailure' to make the proper initial adjustment. 7

The machine shown in Figs. 8 and 9 is identical with that already described except that mechanism for. pressing a toe cap is added. This mechanism is actuated by the which is pivotally connected thereto by a stud 91. The opposite end of thisflink is 1120 arm 32 through the medium of a link '90 pivoted at 92 to a slide cam 93 which operates in a slideway9l: in a block95securedto themachine frame 1. An upwardly extending slide 96 moves in a slideway 97 in thefblock 95 and is providedat its lower end with a roller 98. which ridesupon the cam .93. The up per end ofthis slide-96 isbifurcateld to en gage a link 99 which is pivoted at 100 to an arm or throw 101 on one end of a crank shaft 102 supported in bearing blocks 108 and 104, a collar 105 being provided to hold this shaft in place.

A pressing lever 106 is fulcrumed on a rocker shaft 107 which is journaled in upright brackets 108. The outer end of this shaft overlies the portion 109 of the crank shaft 102 between throws 110. An elevating block 111 is strapped on this portion of the'shaft and an adjusting screw 112 extends through a boss on the lever 106 and contacts with this block to permit the amount of pressure of the presser pad 113 at the inner end of the lever to be adjusted. A spring 114 yieldingly retains the screw 112 in contact with the block. The pad 113 is preferably made of sponge rubber or other suitable yielding material. This pad is secured to a block 115 on the under side of the lever. A stud 116 seated in the block 115 extends through a leaf spring 117 and alongitudinal slot 118 in the lever and fo ms the means of attachment of the block. A hand knob 119 is threaded on the upper end of the stud 116 and the loosening of this knob permits the block and pad to be shifted longitudinally of the pressing lever so that the pad may be properly positioned for different sizes of shoes.

In operation the revolution of the eccentric 28 in the manner described causes the arm 32 to swing and this produces a partial rotation of the crank shaft 102. This movement of the shaft first lifts the outer end of the lever 1.06, forcing the pad 113 downwardly against the toe cap of the lasted shoe on the shoe rest and then permits the spring 114 to swing the lever in the counter direction to its initial position. This pressure firmly unites the toe cap to the fabric of the shoe upper.

The machine forming the subject matter of the present invention is simple in construction, and the presser ring is compressed by mechanical means which move in a straight line toward the shoe. This provides an even pressure and there is no tendency to displace the'foxing as is liable to occur when pressing means move in an arc. Furthermore there is no tendency of the ring to buckle. The whole mechanism operates rapidly and the rapidity of operation does not decrease the effectiveness of the machine. A uniformly high pressure can be exerted on a large range of sizes of shoes and the quality of the footwear is very materially improved. i

The details of construction may be con- 7 siderably varied without departing from the spirit of the invention, and the right is reserved to make all changes which fairly fall within thescope .of the following claims.

' Having thus described my invention, what A pressing machine comprising a size.

variable element provided with an opening of a shape approximating the shape of the article to be treated, a series of presser members disposed about said element, a revoluble cam, and means on said members engaged by said cam to cause said members to be moved toward and from said opening as said cam is rotated, the direction of movement depending upon the direction of rotation of said cam.

8. A pressing machine comprising a size variable element provided with an opening of a shape approximating the shape of the article to be treated, a. series of presser members disposed about said element, a revoluble disk, a series of cam grooves on said disk, a projection on each of said members fitting within one of said cam grooves to cause said members to coact with said element to vary the size of said opening as said disk is rotated, and means for actuating said disk.

4-. A pressing machine comprising a size variable element provided with an opening of a shape approximating the shape of the article to be treated, a series of presser members disposed about said element, an osciliating dish, a series of cam grooves on said disk, a projection on each ofsaid members fitting within one of said cam grooves to cause said members to be moved toward and from said opening to vary the size thereof, the direction of movement'of said members depending on the direction of rotation of said disk, and means for actuating said disk.

5. In a pressing machine, a block of resilient material provided with an opening of a shape approximating the shape of the article to be treated, lugs formed on said block, and means engaging said lugs for expanding said openin 6. A pressing machine comprising a block of rubber composition having an opening therein to admit an article to be treated, re-

inforced lugs on said block, means for ensaid block and said lugs to vary the size of said opening, and means for actuating said engaging means. 1 1 v 7. A. pressing machine comprising an elementprovided with an opening of a shape approximating the shape of the article to be treated, a support for the article within said opening, presser members disposed about said element and movable to vary the size of said opening, means for actuating said members,

justing certain of the individual presser mem- 7 said element.

9. A pressing machine comprising a deformable element provided with an opening to admit an article to be treated, a pivoted support for the article within said opening, presser members movable to deform the ele ment so as to apply pressure to the surface of an article positioned in the opening, and yielding means for actuating said members.

10. A pressing machine comprising a size bers to vary the pressure exerted thereby on variable element provided with an opening to admit an article to be shaped, a pivoted support for the article lying within said opening, a series of presser members disposed about said element and movable to vary the size of said opening, a revoluble cam for actuating said members, and yielding means for actuating said cam.

11. In an apparatus for pressing rubber articles, a presser clement comprising a body portion of elastic material provided with an opening of a shape approximating the shape of the article to be treated and having formed adjacent its outer margin projections of greater rigidity than the body of the element.

12. In an apparatus for pressing rubber articles, a presser element comprising a body portion of rubber composition having an opening of a shape approximating the shape of the article to be treated, and reinforced lugs projecting from opposite faces of said body portion.

13. In an apparatus for pressing rubber articles, in combination, an element of size variable composition provided with an opening of the shape approximating the shape of the article to be treated, presser members acting against the margins of said element to compress said element and reduced the size of said opening as said members are moved toward said opening, lugs on the marginal portions of said element, and means on said presser members for engaging said lugs to enlarge said opening as said members are moved away from said opening.

14:- A pressing machine comprising an element of size variable composition provided with an opening of a shape approximating the shape of the article to be treated, presser members disposed about the margin of said element and movable to vary the size of said opening, means foractuating said members, and compensatin means for limiting. the pressure exerted by said members on said element.

15. In a machine of the class described, a pivoted shoe rest, a flexible deformable ring enveloping said rest, members connected'to said ring, and means for actuating said members to compress and expand saic ring.

16. In a machine of the class described, a size variable element provided with an opening to receive an article to be treated, presser memberscoacting with the margins of said element to vary the size of said opening, a toe cap presser member disposed substantially opposite said opening,and means for actuating said members.

'17. In a machine of the class described, in

combination, a shoe rest, a lever fulcrumed adjacent said rest, a pressing pad on said lever, means for actuating said lever to move said pad downwardly over said rest to exert a pressure on the toe cap of a shoe on said rest, and means for adjusting the position of said pad on said lever.

18. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a shoe rest, a lever fulcrumed adjacent said rest, a presser pad mounted on said lever, means for actuating said lever to move said pad downwardly over saidrest to exert a pressure'on the toe cap of a shoe on said. rest, and means for adjusting the move- 

